Friday, July 09, 2010

The Official Government News Portal.............................................................................................................................................................................................

Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris said that the protest staged opposite the UN Colombo office by National Freedom Front and its Leader minister Wimal Weerawansa was a peaceful demonstration..The Minister said that even the United Nations has upheld the right to hold peaceful demonstrations and those rights have been enshrined in the Constitution of the country.

Sri Lanka government dealt with protest outside the UN office in Colombo in compliance with both domestic as well as international obligations.The government Information Director General Professor Ariyiaratna Athugala had said in a Statement on Monday. He said that the Government is duty-bound to protect and provide security to diplomats in the country.

When asked to comment on the protest issue in front of the UN complex in Colombo External Affairs Minister Prof G.L.Peiris said any person of the country had a right to express an opinion, demonstrate or protest against any matter absolutely in a peaceful manner. He said it was the Government’s obligation to ensure the safety of all diplomatic missions and premises and allow the free movement under the international law and we have discharged our obligation.

The gates to UN complex is open.The demonstration did not block the entrances to the UN offices and the staff, the Minister said. Answering a question about the protest by a Cabinet minister, Wimal Weerawansa opposite the UN office, he said government ministers too have their individual right as a member of the society and it is known world over that in a coalition government there are different parties with different ideas.

fair use notice:

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Journalists for Democracy in Sri Lanka distributes this material without profit for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.